A CHINOOK pilot who spent nearly 20 years at RAF Odiham has called it a “massive privilege” to return as the new station commander.

Group Captain Steve Shell, who took over the top post from Group Capt Andy Turner last month, first came to Odiham in 1989 to learn to fly Chinooks.

The 42-year-old has spent six tours at the north Hampshire airbase, and returns after two years working at the Ministry of Defence.

He told The Gazette: “It is a massive privilege that few people get to realise. I am very lucky to have this position. RAF Odiham is very much home to me.

“I have been busy going around meeting old friends and making new friends but more importantly getting back up to speed to see where we have moved to in the time I have been away.”

Group Capt Shell went on a five-day tour of Afghanistan to meet personnel from RAF Odiham and to see first-hand the challenges they face.

He said: “Afghanistan is undoubtedly the most demanding theatre we have operated in. To give that context that includes Iraq, Kosovo, Bosnia and the Falkland Islands – Afghanistan stands out as the most demanding.”

Earlier this year, the Ministry of Defence dropped a cost-cutting review, called Project Belvedere, into RAF bases in England that could have seen the closure of the north Hampshire base in favour of a “superbase” at RAF Lyneham in Wiltshire.

That decision effectively secured the future of RAF Odiham, which is home to the three Chinook helicopter Squadrons – 7, 18 and 27 Squadrons – and a place of work for 2,000 people.

In his last interview with The Gazette in October, Group Capt Turner revealed plans had been drawn up for a £100million improvement to the base – a plan to which the new station commander is committed.

Group Capt Shell said: “We see ourselves as the architects, if you like, of making life more efficient and more comfortable for our successors.”

However, he warned that other bases left “in blight” by Project Belvedere, such as RAF Benson, would be making similar applications for funding for improvements from the MoD and what can be done is all a question of what money is made available.